Economic losses to inland recreational fisheries from harmful algal blooms

D Harshanee Jayasekera; Richard T Melstrom; Kevin L Pope

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123238

Economic losses to inland recreational fisheries from harmful algal blooms

J Environ Manage. 2024 Dec:372:123238. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123238. Epub 2024 Nov 19.

Authors

D Harshanee Jayasekera¹, Richard T Melstrom², Kevin L Pope³

Affiliations

¹ Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Innovation Campus, 2021 Transformation Drive, Suite 3220, Lincoln, 68588, NE, USA. Electronic address: djayasekera@nebraska.edu.
² School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University-Chicago, BVM Hall 424, 1032 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago, 60660, IL, USA.
³ U.S. Geological Survey-Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, and School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 422 Hardin Hall, 3310 Holdrege Street, Lincoln, 68583, NE, USA.

PMID: 39566207
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123238

Abstract

This paper presents research on the recreational impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and other water quality changes in the U.S. heartland. We examine the link between recreational fishing and water quality using a random utility model of reservoir choices, and data on effort and health-based advisories for reservoirs in Nebraska. We find that advisories linked specifically to algal blooms affect the demand for and value of fishing, and that these effects are heterogeneous. The estimated welfare loss at HAB-afflicted reservoirs is approximately $12 per trip, with larger losses experienced by gamefish-oriented and college-educated fishers.

Keywords: Health-based warnings; Recreational fishing; Trip value; Water quality.

MeSH terms

Animals
Fisheries* / economics
Harmful Algal Bloom*
Recreation
Water Quality